Intermittent film feed apparatus



Nov. 24, 1936. A pAlLLARD 2,061,879

INTERMITTENT FILM FEED APPARATUS Filed Aug. 6, 1934 Patented Nov. 24, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFHCE Application. August 6,

1934, Serial No. $38,697

En Switzerland August 29, 1933 4 Claims.

The present invention has for object an arrangement for a cinematographic apparatus for the projection of films of different widths and different gauges, the carrying along of the film being effected by staggered movements and by means of a multiple claw secured fast on a claw carrier.

The arrangement according to the invention is characterized by the fact that the claw carrier has a variable working path according to the nature of the film to be carried along, in combination with a stationary gate, shaped in such a manner as to be able to guide films of different widths owing to the fact that said gate is combined with several interchangeable pressure shutters each one provided for a specific film, certain of the said shutters possessing appropriate means for the partial guiding of the film in width.

The accompanying drawing shows, by way of example, a form of construction of the invention arranged for an apparatus adapted to project three films of diil'erentwidth and gauge namely the 16 mm. film provided with a row of perforations on each of its two edges, the film of 9,5 mm. provided with a central row of perforations and the film of '8 mm. perforated along one of its 4 edges only, this latter film being generally obtained by cutting lengthwise axially a film of Figs. 1 and 2 are aflateral view and a plan view partly in axial section of the mechanism permitting of varying the working path of the driving claw.

Fig. 2a shows another form of execution of the coupling device;

Fig. 3, is an end view of the stationary gate with the pressure shutter used for the projection of the 16 mm. film. 1 Fig. 4 is an end view of the stationary gatewith the pressure shutter used for the projection of a Fig. 8 is a viewpartly in axial section of adelivery mechanism for the film and with variable In the example shown, the claw carrier l consists of a plate comprising apertures, one being square, marked 2, and the other marked 3 being rectangular. It carries, held fast. the claw 4 provided with four teeth: two lateral teeth I and 8 and two superposed central teeth l and 8. The teeth 5 and 6 are a little longer than the teeth 3 and 8' and are intended to penetrate, either simultaneously in the two lateral perforations of the 16 mm. film, or one of them only, for example the tooth 6, in the single lateral perforation of the 8 mm. film. The teeth 8 and 'l are provided to engage the central perforation of the 9,5 mm. film.

Inside the windows or apertures 2 and 3 move two cams 9 and ill, the cam 9 having such a shape that it turns without play in the aperture-2, and the cam i having such a shape that there is never any play between it and the two large faces I i of the rectangular aperture 3.

The cam ,9 is integral with the shaft I2 which itself is integral with a toothed wheel l3 driven by another toothed wheel I having the same number of teeth and turning freely on the shaft IS with which is integral the second cam l0. On the shaft I is situated a loose member l6 capable of sliding on this shaft but bound to rotate with it. This loose member comprises two bosses H and It the first beingcapableor lodging in an opening IQ of the frame of the apparatiis and the second in an opening 20 of the toothed wheel M. The loose member I6 is controlled in its movement of sliding to and fro by a lever 2| only the end of which has been illustrated.

In the position shown for these various parts, the wheel through the intermediary of the boss i8 is rendered fast with the loose member l6 and so with the shaft ii. The driving of the whole is effected by motive means not shown and acting directly on one of the toothed wheels l3 13, therefore the cam 9, will bedriven but also, and through the loose member i6, the shaft l5 and the cam Ill. The claw holder I will therefore make a forward and rearward movement and inversely and a plunging movement of its extremity carrying the claw, combination of the action of the two cams 8 and I0 turning at the same speed. The amplitude of the forward and rearward movement and inversely, is unchangeable; it depends solely on the largeness of the square aperture 2' and of the cam which is housed therein.

The working path or travel of the claw or the amplitude of the plunging movement will vary on thecontrary according to the combination of movement obtained by the rotation of the one or of-both cams 9 and I0.

By displacing the loose memberil into the position whereinits boss I1 is rendered immovor it, it will be seen that not only the wheel resulting from the i 'button i1 and to the lever 53.

able in the hole I 9, the cam I0 is made fast which vice for the lever 2| or of the button I1 it is then serves as the centre of rotation for the claw possible to adjust the driving mechanism, Figs. carrier i which the wheel I turning then freely l, 2 and 20. for driving one or other of the three on the shaft I5, drives through theintennediary films under review. of the wheel 13 and the cam 9. These films will be guided in a stationary gate According to Fig. 2a, which represents another shown in end view and marked 22 in Figs. 3 to form of embodiment of the coupling device, on 6, Figure 5 nevertheless showing a section. the shaft i5 is placed the loose member l6 ca- Fig. 3 shows how this gate can cooperate with pable of sliding'on this shaft but bound to rotate a shutter 23 for theprojection of the film 26 with it. The toothed wheel ll comprises a boss of 16 mm. For this purpose the film bears on l6 capable of lodging in an opening 20 of the two preliminary shoulders 25 of the gate against sliding'plate iii. The latter can be moved on which it is held by the fact that the shutter 23 the shaft i5 by means of a button I'I' comprispresses on it under the action of springs. ing a screw V. The gate comprises two openings 26 for the Inthe shown position of the different elements, passage of the teeth 5 and 6 adapted to carry the boss l8'of the toothed wheel ll is disengaged along the film and the shutter 23 has correspondfrom the opening 20' of the sliding plate l6, ing milled surfaces 21 to permit of the passage The latter is held in this position by means of of the extremity of said teeth. the said screw V engaged into the recess IQ of Shutter 23 and gate 22 further comprise each the housing of the apparatus. It results thereof one an aperture 28 respectively 29 correspondthat the cam l0 fixed on the shaft i5 is immoing, the former to the frame of the picture to bilized in a determined position. The cam ill be projected, the latter to the width of this frame forms the centre of oscillation of the claw carwhile nevertheless being greater in height. This rier I which the wheel l4, turning at this moment p rmits of f uss ng the p tu y simply d loosely on shaft i5, drives by intermediary of the p g longitudinally the Shutter 3. wheel l3 and the cam 9. To go from the 16 mm. film to a 9,5 mm. film it By a rotation of the button H, which is integral only needs the removal of the shutter 23 and the with the sliding plate IE, it is possible to bring replacement thereof by the shutter 30 shown in the screw V opposite to the opening 2| which Fig. 4, the film then hearing or resting against a allows then the passage of said screw V. By the second pair of shoulders 3| cf the stationary gate action of the spring R, the plate I6 is now dis- 22. This film, shown at '32, is provided with a placed towards the wheel I. By the introduction central perforation in which engage the teeth 1 of the boss i8 into the opening 20', the wheel H and 8 by passing through the opening 33 of the is rendered integral with the shaft l5 by interstationary gate. Since the claw I acts from the mediary of the sliding plate l6. It results thereright, as shown in the drawing, it will be seen that from that not only the wheel I3, i. e. the cam 9 this film is closer than the former one so that the will be made rotate, but also and by intermeshorter teeth will reach it while the others will disdiary of the plate I6, the shaft I5 and the cam ill. place themselves without meeting any obstacle in The claw carrier I will make thus a to and fro their passage since the apertures in the gate and movement and inversely and produce a plunging the recessed portion 34 of the shutter 30' provide movement on its extremity carrying the claws, therefor. I g/ resulting from the combination of the action of similarly in the previous example of Fig. 3, the the two cams 9 and I0 turning at W i y of the teeth 5, 6 reach the film 24, the The amplitude of the fo r vggi e rward teeth I, 8 which are short ones, move in front of movement and inversely, is invariable; it dethe film without touching it. pends solely on the largeness of the square aper- The framing of the picture is determined in ture 2 and of the cam which is housed therein; this case by the aperture 35 of the shutter 30, this will be described hereaboutin more detail which is likewise adjustable longitudinally. with respect to the common driving of the organs For projecting the film of 8 mm. a third shutter 2| and 53, which could also be applied to the is made use of, marked 26, and shown in front elevation at Fig. '7, in section at Fig. 5 and in end view at Fig. 6. v

The film 31 bears in this case on one side only, that is the side where the perforations are provided, on one of the shoulders 25 of the gate and is guided on its width at the other side by a boss 36 of the shutter 36. In order that it may bear The various parts described will be proportioned in such a mariner that the cam Ill being made fast in the position shown in the drawi s. the plunging movement of the claw shall be such as to correspond with the travel of the film which has the largest gauge, that of 16 mm. whereas, the cam l0 being engaged through the correctly against this shutter that is to say that intermediary of the loose members l6 or W, this it remains fiat, two springs 39 are also riveted to plunging movement will be reduced to the height said shutter. The film will be carried along only of the picture of the narrowest film. that of 8 mm. by the tooth 6, the teeth 6, l, and 3 moving with- There will thus be two different amplitudes, nevout encountering any obstacles in their travel beertheless usable for the three films, given that cause these teeth I and 6 do not meet the shutter the amplitude corresponding to the intermediate and the extremity of the teeth 6 and 6 can move film of 9,5 mm. is approximately similar to the in the milled surfaces 40 of this latter. The openamplitude corresponding to the large film, the ing ll of the shutter 36 which is adapted to slide slight difference existing being also compensated, longitudinally, surrounds the picture, which is at least sufliciently for the practical purposes, not exactly in the optical axis which however is by the difference of the acting radius of the teeth. of no importance in practice.

6, 6 on the one hand and the teeth I, 6 on the The rapidity of translation of the films varyother hand, the amplitude of the plunging moveing with the amplitude of the plunging movement ment of the latter being for this reason slightly of the claw, it is obvious that'the regular delivery less than the amplitude of the plunging moveor driving member for the film must be capable ment of the former. of being modified in speed accordingly. In as By simple displacement of an operating demuchasitwouldinpracticebeccmplisatedtole 2,061,879 delivery spools of differ provide interchangeable ent diameters it is preferable to retain the samediameter oi spool and to vary the speed-as shown in Fig. 8. I

At 42 is arranged a spool secured on a shaft 43 by means of a nut 44, this shaft carrying two toothed wheels 45, 48 of different diameter capable of being driven, the one by the wheel 41 and the other by the wheel 48 of corresponding diameter, both disposed on the shaft 49 which itself is driven by the driving mechanism which is not illustrated. While the wheels 45, 46 are fast on the shaft 43, the wheels 41, 48 turn loose on the shaft 49 which latter carries a loose member 50 which is capable of sliding thereon but forced to rotate therewith, said loose member comprising bosses 52 adapted to penetrate into a corresponding opening either of the one or the other of the two wheels 41, 48. A lever, the extremity 53 of which is visible in the drawing, determines the position of the loose member of this mechanism which is nothing more than a change speed device with two speeds. One of the speeds, that corresponding to the position of the parts as shown in the drawing, serves for driving thesmallest films, those of 8 mm. whereas the other speed is adapted to drive the films of 16 and 9,5

It is obvious that the levers 2| and 53 or' the button l1 and the lever .53 can be interconnected in such a manner that from the exterior of the apparatus for projecting and by a single operation, both the loose members l6 or I6 and the loose member 50 are placed in the position corresponding to the projection of the particular film, simultaneously.

The operations carried out topass from one film to another will consist therefore solely in placing, by means of the single control, the lever 21 orthe button i1 and the lever 53 in the desired position, in bringing into position in the stationary gate 22 the one of the three shutters 23, III or 46 which corresponds with said film .and finally in placing the corresponding driving member in position.

It is obvious that the widths of film indicated and the number of films capable of being pro-.-

iected-Jare only given'by way of example and thatit is possible to provide similar arrangements for more than three films and for other widths and gauges.

I claim:-

7 1. In an intermittent fihn feed apparatus, a film gate provided with a film .travel passage for accommodating films of different widths, a claw carrier, a multiple claw thereon all prongs of which are movable throughsaid gate, shutter means engageable with film in the confines of said gate, claw carrier actuator means including cams operable on 'said carrier at a plurality of points, and means for arresting movement of one cam while another operates the carrier whereby to vary the actuation of said claw carrier.

2. In an intermittent film feed apparatus, a film drive comprising separate claw means adapted for operative engagement with films of difierent widths, as carrier therefor including a. frame movably mounted on the apparatus and having a plurality of differently sized cam-ways therein, cams operable in said cam-ways, means for operating said cams in unison, and means for locking one cam against movement while the other cam continues to operate.

' 3. In an intermittent film feed apparatus, a film 'drive comprising separate claw means adapted for operative engagement with films of different widths, a carrier therefor including a frame movably mounted on the apparatus and having a pair of cam-ways therein, cams rotatable in said ways, and adjustable means for holding one of said cams against rotation to provide a fixed pivot for the frame while the other cam continues to operate the frame.

4. In an intermittent film feed apparatus, a film drive including a shuttle arm provided with a pair of diiferently sized cam-ways, a driving shaft, a cam fixed thereto and rotatable in one of said ways, a gear wheel fixed to said shaft, a driven shaft, a cam fixed to said driven shaft and rotatable in the other of said ways, a second gear wheel meshed with said first mentioned gear wheel and loosely rotatable on said driven shaft, and a clutch means for engaging said second gear wheel in driving relation with said driven shaft.

AIBERT PAILLARD. 

